Hurricane Helene

[libertybele]

New North Carolina governor issues orders on private road repairs, housing after Helene

 New North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein took several actions on Thursday to help the short- and long-term recovery from Hurricane Helene, with an immediate focus on more temporary housing and repairs to private bridges and roads.

Stein, who took his oath of office on Wednesday to succeed fellow Democrat Roy Cooper, traveled to Asheville and — with legislators and officials from both parties behind him — announced he had signed five executive orders related to the historic flooding in late September in western North Carolina.

“The needs facing this region are vast and require immediate attention,” Stein said at a news conference. “I pledge to do everything in my power as governor to accelerate recovery of the rebuilding of a more resilient region for the long haul.”

Over 100 people died in North Carolina because of Helene, which state officials estimate caused a record $59.6 billion in damages and recovery needs. Billions of dollars from the federal and state government already have been spent or earmarked for the recovery, and Congress last month committed at least another $9 billion in aid. But more must be done this winter to put more people in warm and safe housing on their own property, and to restore vital transportation links between small communities as well as first responders and school buses, Stein said.

One executive order allows the state Department of Public Safety to purchase up to 1,000 temporary housing units through the end of next month without going through the usual state procurement and bidding processes. Stein said the Federal Emergency Management Agency is covering the costs of these units. FEMA is already following another regulatory process as it installs similar trailers on its own, he added.................

https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-governor-hurricane-relief-539ae9c03423287968daae0a5d90e3b6

[libertybele]

Hurricane Helene: Victims who died in North Carolina identified

Hurricane Helene is responsible for more than 100 storm-related deaths in Western North Carolina.

It has been more than three months since the storm hit North Carolina, and now state officials have released the full list of people who died during the storm. Two people from the Piedmont Triad area, Todd Proffitt of Yadkin County and James Scroggs of Wilkes County, died................

See the full list below:

https://www.wxii12.com/article/hurricane-helene-victims-north-carolina-identified/63365364

[libertybele]

Florida hurricane victims say there’s ‘no place to go’ as FEMA hotel help expires soon

Hurricane Helene’s surge left several Treasure Island communities in shambles.

The City of Treasure Island is moving through a backlog of permit applications, and many property owners haven’t been able to start the process to rebuild their homes.

“Our condo doesn’t even have permits yet,” said Lisa Flinn. “No one is working in our building. I don’t know what the issues are with HOA or insurance or FEMA or Treasure Island. It’s the big unknown.”

Flinn had to turn a small hotel room into her home after Hurricane Helene flooded and destroyed her condo.

However, her list of questions and concerns is growing.

Flinn’s hotel fees were covered by the FEMA Temporary Sheltering Assistance Program, but her 90-day stay is about to expire next week.

“FEMA is kicking us out on the 14th and all of us here, at least 92 units, have no place to go,” Flinn said. “What are we supposed to do?”

Val Wolford is also sounding the alarm.

“We can’t go back to the original places,” Wolford said. “Everyone is scrambling for the few places that may have vacancy. Where are we going to go?”

The walls inside Wolford’s home are still missing since Helene made landfall in late September.

“We have to start over from silverware to furniture to personal belongings,” Wolford said.  “Fortunately, I have my car and a bag full of some clothes. That’s pretty much all that was left.”

The community is calling on local and state officials to extend the deadline while the city works to clear the backlog of permit applications.................

https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/southeast/florida-hurricane-victims-no-place-to-go-as-fema-hotel/

[mountaineer]

WHEW! That's a relief!!!!

Oli London
@OliLondonTV
Biden Administration set to send additional $500 million to Ukraine.
The announcement for the package is expected tomorrow with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to Germany.
Under the Biden Administration, $66.5 billion in military aid has been sent to Ukraine.
Source: AP
5:44 PM · Jan 8, 2025

[libertybele]

WHEW! That's a relief!!!!

Oli London
@OliLondonTV
Biden Administration set to send additional $500 million to Ukraine.
The announcement for the package is expected tomorrow with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to Germany.
Under the Biden Administration, $66.5 billion in military aid has been sent to Ukraine.
Source: AP
5:44 PM · Jan 8, 2025

 

[mountaineer]

Nearly 3,500 hurricane victims are facing ejections this week, ahead of a massive snowstorm. But Biden is promising the fine folks of the Peoples' Democratic State of California who lost homes in the fire all the money they can handle, and then some.

https://twitter.com/breeadail/status/1877700799616139710

Emily Zanotti 🦝
@emzanotti
The Biden Administration has now promised to cover 100% of recovery costs for Los Angeles for six months.
But they gave 3500 homeless Appalachian families another 24 hours before they kick them out into a winter storm so it’s fine.
10:25 PM · Jan 9, 2025


FEMA Region 4
@femaregion4
#NorthCarolina: Due to the incoming winter storm we are extending our Transitional Sheltering Program stays for 24 hours to those households who are scheduled to check out of their hotels/motels Jan. 11.
If you STILL need assistance with housing, call 1 (800) 621-3362.
5:51 PM · Jan 9, 2025

I would respond to FEMA's tweet with an encouragement to go to Hades, but I'm reasonably certain they're already headed that way.

[mountaineer]

Erick Erickson
@EWErickson
Why is Biden covering 100% of the costs of the LA fire, but not the North Carolina recovery?  Why is the press ignoring FEMA ending housing assistance for people in North Carolina even though these people have no where to go?
12:51 PM · Jan 10, 2025


Yeah, we know why.

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/matt_vanswol/status/1877769580887564775

[libertybele]

We all know; in a nutshell -- The Democratic Party of California is exactly why they're getting the assistance and not those affected by Helene.  It's been political.

Some of these homes that were destroyed were homes of Hollywood elites.   Hard to fathom that they can't afford to rebuild.  I'd venture to say that they could also afford to help those in NC rebuild.

Just sayin'.  It' doesn't make the losses due to fire any less important; it's just the way both unfortunate events have been handled that makes me cringe.     I can't help but think that those fires may have been able to be prevented, whereas Helene was a natural disaster that reared her ugly head.

[GtHawk]

We all know; in a nutshell -- The Democratic Party of California is exactly why they're getting the assistance and not those affected by Helene.  It's been political.

Some of these homes that were destroyed were homes of Hollywood elites.   Hard to fathom that they can't afford to rebuild.  I'd venture to say that they could also afford to help those in NC rebuild.

Just sayin'.  It' doesn't make the losses due to fire any less important; it's just the way both unfortunate events have been handled that makes me cringe.     I can't help but think that those fires may have been able to be prevented, whereas Helene was a natural disaster that reared her ugly head.money for

If congress has to pass the spending for California the republicans had better put in moneybfor Helene and tell the democrats to piss up a rope if they don’t vote for it.

[berdie]

https://twitter.com/matt_vanswol/status/1877769580887564775

That's just all kind of wrong!

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/SenTedBuddNC/status/1877751579266142640

[rangerrebew]

FEMA kicks hurricane survivors out of temporary housing into snowstorm and freezing temperatures
Story by Audrey Conklin, Brooke Singman

Residents of Western North Carolina are confused about the Federal Emergency Management Agency's role in helping locals with disaster recovery after Hurricane Helene.

Locals are especially confused as FEMA plans to end temporary housing assistance for about 2,000 North Carolina residents on Saturday — during a snowstorm, when temperatures across the Appalachian Mountain region are expected to be below 20 degrees.
 
The housing program was initially supposed to end on Friday, but FEMA pushed the deadline back to Saturday.

"I'm actually talking to several people that are losing the FEMA vouchers," Ryan McClymonds, founder of volunteer group Operation Boots on the Ground in WNC and Eastern Tennessee, told Fox News Digital on Friday. "They're terrified that they're going to have nowhere to stay for their families after today. But we did find out last night pretty late … that FEMA is extending it a whole whopping 24 hours."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/public-safety-and-emergencies/natural-disasters/fema-kicks-hurricane-survivors-out-of-temporary-housing-into-snowstorm-and-freezing-temperatures/ar-BB1rgLYJ?ocid=widgetonlockscreen&cvid=a23234fa04384c7d82f20860c621a1df&ei=63

[rangerrebew]

I would guess illegals have been put in 5-star hotels though.

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/matt_vanswol/status/1878091587172913472

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/LorrieAnn25/status/1878257363007803404

[libertybele]

Why isn't FEMA extending those vouchers???  ALL those displaced should have had FEMA trailers by now -- it's been 3 months

What is the governor doing???? What is the mayor doing?  If I were the mayor or governor, I would be opening up schools or asking churches to open up that had electricity and house those without shelter.  Definitely not the best situation, but much better than having people freeze to death.  I'm waiting for those numbers and reports to start coming in.

Perhaps there isn't anything that is structurally stable enough to house these people, I don't know, but something needs to be done.

I keep praying for these people.

[libertybele]

FEMA = those in gov't pocketing $$$, because it sure as heck isn't reaching the people -- which brings me back to my favorite subject; ILLEGALS!  That's where a lot of the money has gone.  My other favorite subject; Ukraine!  I realize FEMA has nothing to do with Ukraine, but if they can give Ukraine BILLIONS of dollars they sure as heck can get these people the help they need.   

I haven't heard Trump touch upon this subject, or did he address it and I missed it??

[Lando Lincoln]

It’s criminal what FEMA is (not) doing for these people.

[Bigun]

It’s criminal what FEMA is (not) doing for these people.

 

[SZonian]

FEMA = those in gov't pocketing $$$, because it sure as heck isn't reaching the people -- which brings me back to my favorite subject; ILLEGALS!  That's where a lot of the money has gone.  My other favorite subject; Ukraine!  I realize FEMA has nothing to do with Ukraine, but if they can give Ukraine BILLIONS of dollars they sure as heck can get these people the help they need.   

I haven't heard Trump touch upon this subject, or did he address it and I missed it??

Por los illegals, todo. Por los Americanos, nada! 
For a war in which both deserve to lose, resources beyond measure enriching criminal elites.   

[libertybele]

Por los illegals, todo. Por los Americanos, nada! 
For a war in which both deserve to lose, resources beyond measure enriching criminal elites.   

Unless you're a liberal and vote DEM; then you may be tended to.

[mystery-ak]

FEMA administrator urges Hurricane Helene victims to take action amid risk of losing temporary housing
FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell encouraged families still needing assistance to contact the agency
T By Taylor Penley Fox News
Published January 12, 2025 3:30pm EST

Western North Carolina families left without homes after Hurricane Helene swept through the Appalachian Mountain region last year received some devastating news earlier this month — their temporary FEMA housing assistance could soon come to an end, leaving them with nowhere to turn as temperatures dip below freezing.

The agency began notifying some families checked into hotel or motel rooms that they are no longer eligible for the Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program due to one of the following reasons: an inspection indicated their home is habitable, they declined an inspection or FEMA has been unable to contact them to update their housing needs.

The deadline, initially Friday, now sits on Jan. 14. FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell says those who receive the notification who are still in need of housing are still eligible, but they need to contact the agency.

"There's a number of reasons why somebody might have received that notification," Criswell explained Sunday.

"What we do is we call everybody. We call them every two weeks to check in on where they're at, what their status is, and is their home able to be occupied again, but one of the biggest things is when we call them, if we don't hear from them, the only thing we can do is assume that they've been back in their home. One of the things I want to make sure, if somebody has received that notification, but they haven't talked to somebody at FEMA and their situation is still in need, they are still eligible. We just need them to get in touch with us so we can talk to them. Everybody's going to have a unique circumstance. Everybody's going to have a unique situation," she added.

"We need to work with them all individually to make sure we're getting them the right resources so they can continue to stay in a safe place until their home is either rebuilt or it's accessible."

North Carolina residents still needing assistance can contact 1-800-621-FEMA or visit a disaster recovery center to speak to someone face-to-face.

more
https://www.foxnews.com/media/fema-administrator-hurricane-helene-victims-risk-losing-temporary-housing-contact-agency

[mountaineer]

FEMA Director just came on Fox News, did not address ANY specifics around FEMA's failures in WNC...  then went out of her way to BLAME THE VICTIMS for not picking FEMA's calls or visiting a FEMA relief center

https://twitter.com/matt_vanswol/status/1878529560255279395

[libertybele]

FEMA administrator urges Hurricane Helene victims to take action amid risk of losing temporary housing
FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell encouraged families still needing assistance to contact the agency
T By Taylor Penley Fox News
Published January 12, 2025 3:30pm EST

Western North Carolina families left without homes after Hurricane Helene swept through the Appalachian Mountain region last year received some devastating news earlier this month — their temporary FEMA housing assistance could soon come to an end, leaving them with nowhere to turn as temperatures dip below freezing.

The agency began notifying some families checked into hotel or motel rooms that they are no longer eligible for the Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program due to one of the following reasons: an inspection indicated their home is habitable, they declined an inspection or FEMA has been unable to contact them to update their housing needs.

The deadline, initially Friday, now sits on Jan. 14. FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell says those who receive the notification who are still in need of housing are still eligible, but they need to contact the agency.

"There's a number of reasons why somebody might have received that notification," Criswell explained Sunday.

"What we do is we call everybody. We call them every two weeks to check in on where they're at, what their status is, and is their home able to be occupied again, but one of the biggest things is when we call them, if we don't hear from them, the only thing we can do is assume that they've been back in their home. One of the things I want to make sure, if somebody has received that notification, but they haven't talked to somebody at FEMA and their situation is still in need, they are still eligible. We just need them to get in touch with us so we can talk to them. Everybody's going to have a unique circumstance. Everybody's going to have a unique situation," she added.

"We need to work with them all individually to make sure we're getting them the right resources so they can continue to stay in a safe place until their home is either rebuilt or it's accessible."

North Carolina residents still needing assistance can contact 1-800-621-FEMA or visit a disaster recovery center to speak to someone face-to-face.

more
https://www.foxnews.com/media/fema-administrator-hurricane-helene-victims-risk-losing-temporary-housing-contact-agency

FEMA is slow to begin with but eventually does keep track of who makes a claim.  I would think this information should be in their database and I also tend to think they certainly know if they've compensated someone in any way.  This is just a way for them to turn away or deny further claims of someone doesn't re-apply.  It's shameful. 

As far as people calling FEMA -- how about those living in tents??  They're assuming everyone has a cellphone and able to call.  What about the people who lost their cell phones in the storm and couldn't afford to buy a new one or how about those who lost service because they couldn't afford to pay for service?

My second guess, is, if it weren't for public outcry, FEMA would have ended their claims for NC, just as they did in FL. No one can  apply for benefits or make a claim in FL -- eligibility has closed and no further claims will be accepted.